Costa Mesa City Council

The following candidates are vying for three seats on the Costa Mesa City Council in the Nov. 3 election. The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 5. To register, pick up a form at any post office, library or City Hall. For more information, call the County registrar of voters at (714) 567-7600. Kevin Austin

Age: 28.

Occupation: Facilities-services manager for Cal Poly Pomona.

Background: Volunteer for the Orange County Central Lions Club and for various youth sports groups.

Issues: Supports joint-use agreement with school district for athletic fields; favors limiting campaign contributions; opposes term limitations; supports forming economic development council to address business concerns.

Joe Erickson

Age: 35.

Occupation: Incumbent; businessman.

Background: Served on Planning Commission 1985-91; appointed to council in 1991 to fill vacancy left by Ed Glasgow.

Issues: Favors increasing number of police officers on city streets; against spending money on arts programs; supports developing parent and teen programs to combat gangs; believes business license procedures should be streamlined.

Sandra L. Genis

Age: 39.

Occupation: Incumbent; land-use planner.

Background: Resident since 1960; member of Mesa Verde Homeowners Assn., Costa Mesa Residents for Responsible Growth, Special Commission on Air Quality and the Economy; elected to council in 1988.

Issues: Supports increasing number of police officers on city streets; favors community service for youths; against city’s spending money on arts funding or other nonessential services such as promotions and advertising; favors term limits on local level; advocates preserving the adopted General Plan.

Mary Hornbuckle

Age: 49.

Occupation: Incumbent; preschool manager.

Background: Elected to council in 1984; served as mayor since 1990; former PTA president; board member of Girls Inc., Senior Citizens Corp.

Issues: Supports working with the Chamber of Commerce for business retention; favors agreement with school district to increase youth athletic facilities; supports ban on fireworks; supports arts funding in better economic times.

Karen McKenna-Juergens

Age: 37.

Occupation: Instructional aide at Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

Background: Volunteer at Boys and Girls Club; PTA member at Ensign Intermediate and Kaiser Elementary schools; past member of the National Women’s Political Caucus.

Issues: Supports a curbside recycling program; supports anti-gang program for elementary schoolchildren; supports prohibiting pornographic magazines or videos near schools;supports increased communication between small business owners and the City Council.

Gary Monahan

Age: 32.

Occupation: Manager of Henry n’ Harry’s Goat Hill Tavern.

Background: Cal State Fullerton student.

Issues: Opposes three-minute public comment limit at City Council meetings; supports joint-use agreement with school districts for athletic fields; opposes city arts funding; advocates opening dialogue between businesses and the council.

Denis Retoske

Age: 52.

Occupation: Attorney.

Background: Citizen member of the Redevelopment Agency; campaign manager for Councilman Peter F. Buffa in 1986; president of the Federal Bar Assn. of Orange County; captain in the U.S. Marines; Vietnam veteran.

Issues: Opposes arts spending under most circumstances; opposes building more affordable housing; supports zero-based budgeting for all departments; supports increased funding for the Police Department.

Chris Steel

Age: 51.

Occupation: Small businessman.

Background: Former member of the Orange County Republican Party Central Committee, Newport Harbor Exchange Service Club; member of Costa Mesa Grange, advisory board to Newport-Mesa school board; 20-year resident; has run unsuccessfully for council five times.

Issues: Opposes building subsidized housing; advocates election of council members by neighborhood or district; advocates closing job center; opposes funding for programs that serve illegal immigrants; opposes arts funding; supports term limits.

Brian Theriot

Age: 35.

Occupation: Businessman.

Background: Board member of Harbor Area Boys Club; established Measure C committee for building safe sidewalks for schoolchildren; AYSO coach; founding member of Mesa Pride; past president of Costa Mesa Republican Assembly.

Issues: Supports term limits; supports arts spending for children’s programs; opposes using city money for programs that serve illegal immigrants; supports possible cuts in top city management salaries; supports enlarging anti-gang unit.

Donald Williams

Age: 50.

Occupation: Businessman.

Background: Resident for 13 years; volunteer basketball and baseball coach.

Issues: Supports starting a banking and business association to help local businesses; opposes putting multiple units on single lots; favors term limits; supports implementing management-training program for local businesses.

Stephen J. McGuire

Could not be contacted.